Hinge



March 10, 1936. JOHNSON 2,033,244

HINGE Original Filed Feb. 19, 1954 Patented Mar. 10, 1936 UNITED STATS HINGE Original application February 19, 1934, Serial No. 711,877. Divided and this application May 3, 1934, Serial No. 723,675

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved butt hinge for use on the doors of motor vehicles.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a hinge of this kind, whose exposed pintle receiving portions are made barrel-shaped for improved appearance, the hinge being otherwise improved in design and construction to make for economy and still avoid certain practical objections to other constructions.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 711,877, filed February'19, 1934.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figures 1 and 2 are a plan view and end view of a hinge made in accordance with my invention, the plan view including sectioned portions of the door and pillar;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section in a Vertical plane on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

4 and 5 are enlarged sectional details illustrating how the burred edge .of the cover plate is conformed to the hinge member when the plate is fastened down by the pintle, whereby to close the joint.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring to the drawing, the hinge of my invention is shown in connection with an automobile door l5 and pillar IS, the tang member I! of the hinge being fastened to the door, and the knuckle member l8 being fastened to the pillar. I 9 designates the sheet metal covering of the body which extends over the outside of the pillar to the joint line at the door. The hinge, in accordance with the present invention, has'the tang and knuckles 2l22 conformed to one another as clearly appears in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the exposed pintle receiving portion of the hinge has a pronounced barrel shape, thus giving an unusually attractive appearance. The pintle 23 has an enlarged portion 24 immediately under the head 25 that is serrated or fluted so that when the pintle is entered in the registering holes 26 and 21 in the knuckles and tang, respectively, and driven home, the portion 24 cuts grooves in the upper knuckle to hold the pintle against turning. The pintle at the same time fastens the cover plate 28 in place on top of the knuckle member l8, with the serrated portion 24 likewise cutting grooves in the hole 29 in the plate to hold the plate against turning. This makes it unnecessary to weld or otherwise suitably secure the plate 28 on the hinge member. However, as a precaution against accidental displacement of the plate 28 from its position in register with the projecting portion of the hinge members, I provide a lug 30 extending inwardly beyond the plane of the outside of the body, where the rest of the plate 28 terminates, as shown in Figure 1, this lug being arranged to enter a notch 31 in the sheet metal 19 adjacent the door pillar l6 and thus hold the plate 28 firmly in place. This precaution is advisable mainly because any looseness of the plate would otherwise eventually result in the finish cracking at the joint between the plate and hinge member; with the plate fastened as described that danger is eliminated and the hinge always presents a good appearance.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that I have provided a hinge of unusually neat and attractive appearance, and one which may be produced economically. The cover plate thereon protects the hinge from the weather and adds a great deal to its good appearance by making the top flush and concealing the gap between the hinge members that would otherwise be exposed. The fact that the pintle when driven into place clamps the plate in position, means an appreciable saving in cost of production by eliminating a welding operation. This method of fastening the plate also has the advantage that the enamel or other finish spreads evenly and Without a tendency to crack or peel.

In the assembling of a hinge the tang and knuckle members are placed in register and the plate 28 is placed on top of the knuckle member with the burr or feather edge produced in the punching of the plate extending downwardly. Then the pintle is driven in place to fasten the plate onto the knuckle member as first described. The downwardly projecting burr on the plate (Fig. 4) draws up tightly on top of the knuckle member and conforms itself thereto, as appears in Fig. 5, as the pintle is driven home, thus eliminating any danger of a poor joint line. As a matter of fact, the plate is, as a result of this burr, as tightly secured on the hinge member as would be necessary, but the projecting lug on the plate locking in the body at the pillar eliminates any danger whatever of the plate getting loose. With this construction it is also evident in Fig. 5 that the upper edge of the cover plate on the completely assembled hinge is not sharp but slightly rounded, that edge being the reverse of the burred edge in the original punching.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention, and the appended claims have been drawn so as to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

1. In a hinge comprising two butt members having registering pin holes, a separate cover plate for the top of one member also having a pin hole, the plate being loosely mounted on top of said member and having that end thereof remote from the pin hole disposed for abutment with the side of a body on which the hinge is adapted to be mounted, said end also having a projection adapted to have engagement in a recess provided therefor in the body so as to hold the plate in register at said end with the top of the butt member, and a headed pintle entered in the pin holes in the butt members and plate and serving to hold the other end of the plate on top of the butt member.

2. In a hinge comprising two butt members, having registering pin holes, a separate cover plate for the top of one member also having a pin hole to register with the other holes, said cover plate having a downwardly projecting feather edge substantially matching the outer profile of the associated butt member, and a headed pintle having a drive fit in the hole of the latter member and a working fit in the hole of the other member, said pintle having a portion under the head thereof passing through the hole in said plate so as to fasten the plate in position on the butt member under the head of the pintle, the aforesaid feather edge being arranged when the head of the pintle forces the plate downwardly on top of the butt member therebeneath to conform itself to the surface of the butt member to close the joint between the plate and butt member.

3. In a hinge comprising two butt members, having registering pin holes, a separate cover plate for the top of one member also having a pin hole to register with the other holes, said cover plate having a downwardly projecting feather edge substantially matching the outer profile of the associated butt member, said plate being loosely mounted on top of said member and having that end thereof remote from the pin hole disposed for abutment with the side of a body on which the hinge is adapted to be mounted, said end also having a projection adapted to have engagement in a recess provided therefor in the body so as to hold the plate in register at said end with the top of the butt member, and a headed pintle having a drive fit in the hole of the latter member and a working fit in the hole of the other member, said pintle having a portion under the head thereof passing through the hole in said plate so as to fasten the plate in position on the butt member under the head of the pintle, the aforesaid feather edge being arranged when the head of the pintle forces the plate downwardly on top of the butt member therebeneath to conform itself to the surface of the butt member to close the joint between the plate and butt member.

4. In a hinge comprising two butt members having knuckle portions with registering pin holes provided therein, a separate cover plate having a marginal portion engaging the top of one member, said plate being arranged to be fastened thereto and project over the top of the other butt member, said plate having a pin hole provided therein to register with the other pin holes, and a headed pintle having a drive fit in the hole of the plate supporting butt member and a working fit in the hole of the other butt member, said pintle being arranged when driven home in the plate supporting butt member to have the head thereof force the marginal portion of the cover plate downwardly on top of the butt member to hold-said plate in position on the butt member independently of other fastening of the marginal portion.

' GEORGE H. JOHNSON. 

